The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

This is the stunning sequel to the hotly anticipated "Hunger Games," and man I gotta say, this movie is almost, if not as good as the original. My goal is to help you make an informed choice on whether or not to let your kid watch "Catching Fire," so let's go over it. Katniss has returned from the horrifying Games. She is home. She should be happy. But nothing is the way it should be. Gale, Katniss's longtime friend, holds her at an icy distance. What is worse, the districts don't believe Katniss and Peeta's love story, and it is driving many of them to rebel. President Snow himself has threatened Katniss's family and friends if she does not subdue the districts. The upcoming Victory Tour may be her last chance. If Katniss doesn't convince them that she is madly in love with Peeta, the consequences will be horrific. But can anyone catch fire? Positive Messages:4/5, This movie has many of the same messages as the original, (loyalty, courage, selflessness,) but it adds on it a little, deepening the horrors of the Capitol, as well as showing more of the pain that the districts are in. It also raises a provocative question, is it better to sacrifice yourself for your loved ones, or your loved ones for the greater good? Positive Role Models:4/5, Katniss and Peeta continue to be our courageous and selfless heroes, but we see some others as well. Gale is a selfless and good friend to Katniss, and he never fails to tell her when she is wrong. Prim, as well as Katniss's mother add their quiet strength and bravery as well. Violence:3/5, While this movie's violence is, in my opinion, less bloody than the original, it is more intense and more frequent. During the Victory Tour, several people are shot. After the Tour, peacekeepers are sent to District 12, and they burn a large building down. in one graphic scene, a character is whipped and you see his bloody back. Once the Games begin, there is the usual training center knife and spear throwing, (although this time they use holograms instead of dummys.) A beloved character is graphically beaten to death in front of Katniss, and his face is covered in blood. A character at the beginning of the Games is electrocuted, some are gassed by a creepy fog, there are a few jump scares in a scene where a pack of mutant monkeys attack, a character's throat is torn open, some other tributes emerge from the forest literally covered in blood. During a fight scene, a character is hit with a throwing ax, (impact is not graphically shown.) Near the end, two characters are struck by lightning. Drinking/Drug/Smoking:2/5, One character is clearly an alcoholic. After receiving some terrible news, Katniss goes to her mentor's house and drinks. Two characters are referred to as "The Morphlings," because they are addicted to the painkiller. Swearing:2/5, There is more language in this movie than in the original. Other than the normal use of "hell' and "damn", there is one use of "shit," one of "son of a bitch" and during the Caesar Flickerman interview, Joanna, a fellow tribute, uses the F-word several times,(she is bleeped out, however.) Sexy Stuff:2/5, Katniss kisses both Gale and Peeta in this movie,(one time with Peeta is pretty passionate.) Katniss also meets Finnick Odaire, a fellow tribute and the Capitol's sex symbol, and he makes several suggestive comments to her. To sum it all up, if you let your kid watch "Hunger Games," then they should be able to handle this movie. The violence is more tense but less bloody than the original, (the only two bloody scenes are when Gale is whipped and a beloved character is beaten to death.) The drinking level is low, and the two morphling addicts don't actually take any drugs during the movie. Although there is some swearing, it is really only a few times, and there is nothing that your kids won't hear at school. While there is some kissing, it is only with good, lovable people, and the suggestive comments never go beyond words. So why wait? This is a wonderful movie if you have already seen the first one, it may just be too mature for anyone under 14.

I just saw this movie with my daughter (10). There are some political concepts that were over her head. My biggest fear was the violence. Reviews from this website allowed us to go and enjoy this well written, directed, and produced movie together. With respect to the violence, it is balanced with heaping doses of humanity and empathy. It has a profound impact on the characters when people are injured or killed. For me that is the big difference between this and other movies. We confront death (even when you're 10) but how it's registered is important. As a father of three daughters I find Katniss to be the only worthy fictional female role model I can think of. She has lots of humility, empathy, and humanity. She is also strong, courageous, intelligent, self-sacrificing, and resourceful. The violence is not more than one sees on prime time TV and the quick editing makes it palatable. One character is an alcoholic but this is presented as tragic more than glamorous. Overall thoroughly entertaining series of movies that we will enjoy as we grow.